Controversial ‘gay cure’ film to premiere in Northern Ireland church

A Christian group’s film urging gay people not to live out their homosexuality is to have its all-Ireland premiere at a Co Down church after being turned down by cinemas in Belfast and London.

Northern Ireland group Core Issues Trust, which claims it is “challenging gender confusion”, has already been refused permission to screen Voices of The Silenced at the Vue Cinema in London’s Piccadilly.

The film was shown at an undisclosed London location instead, but organisers were later denied permission to hold a screening at Queen’s Film Theatre in Belfast. Instead, the first-ever showing here will take place in Ballynahinch Baptist Church at 7.30pm tomorrow.

The free screening will be open to the public, with a “suggested” £10 donation for attendees.

Director of the Core Issues Trust, father-of-two Mike Davidson (63), has undergone counselling for homosexuality and been married to wife Lynore (71) for 38 years.

He believes that people with homosexual feelings are being made to feel it is “mandatory to identify as gay” and wants to screen the film across Northern Ireland. “The film is saying some people can choose not to live out their homosexuality and can deal with their feelings to the point that they can have a viable relationship with the opposite sex,” he stated.